Boudoir is often thought of in only one way…. lingerie clad and overly sexy. There are, in fact, many other stunning & wonderful interpretations of boudoir, not all in lingerie either. Today’s styled shoot from wedding photographer Vanessa Hicks Photography rides a gorgeous line between Hawaiian boudoir meets sunrise bridal session. No matter which you decide to color with, it’s a delicious treat. Starting at 4am, (4am!) Vanessa headed out with model Leslie to the rocky shores of Makapuu Beach, armed with a lush tropical flower crown & rose adorned veil courtesy of florist Creative Concepts by Jeff . The duo found the most amazing locale for this Hawaiian boudoir meets bridals, a locale forged of volcanic earth, carved out by the mighty pacific. While some models might not have been up for the cold, wind, & getting wet by the waves, Leslie delivered in so many ways. Wearing a simple, classic white one piece swimsuit, the pairing of the floral crown and cathedral length veil take us into an ethereal world drenched in yummy golden hues. Leslie is one of the rare ones, able to render you spellbound by her direct to camera eyes the very same way she is able to with her megawatt smile...

Not everyone craves a cookie cutter wedding, nor should they. The stylish fashion forward bride is probably my absolute favorite. Color, is nothing to her but a vehicle for style. Black, white, fuchsia, they are all equal, what matters is how evocative one feels over another given its overall design. For those leaning toward a more moody & mysterious wedding style, something like this Gothic chic Utah wedding hits on all the right levels. With a hearty focus on wedding fashion, this sophisticated formal exudes atmospheric perfection. All starting with a black wedding dress from Bling It On Dress Rentals, details like sheer long sleeves accented by hand beaded detailing and a cafe au lait underlay are the touches that elevate & add intrigue. Dialing up the brooding romance allure, a bridal up-do just the right balance of undone polish, plays a heavy hand into the romance factor. The rest of this dark & dreamy Utah wedding is the sweeping landscapes that is Antelope Island, captured with beauty by wedding photographer Ashley Smith Photography.

There is an undeniable beauty to the light that falls just as the sun is setting, a light lovingly referred to as 'Golden Hour'. A warm honey hue cast all around, the light in just the right place within the sky to create dreamy halos. A time of year when golden hour is especially delicious is the end of summer, a time when fall ever so slightly begins to peek through. Wedding photographer Rachel Fugate wanted to harness that earthly beauty, putting together a romantic styled shoot at the Historic Rock Castle that evoked a dark early autumn forest wedding feel. Riding the line between a indie style meets haunting sophistication, the shoot serves as a love letter of inspiration to those looking to stylistically be their own. Another key element at play that makes the dark forest wedding so successful is the hearty earthy nod found in elements like the two tier wedding cake adorned with blooms and berries, and an utterly to die for hand-tied bouquet by Hannah Jones. Each capitalizes on elements derived from the earth, displayed in such a way that their true beauty and rich falling loving hues become stars all their own. This late summer forest wedding is the stuff winter dreams are made of, the kind that leaves you swoony in the head for the beauty of things to come.